"But you're too fine to go into that place
down there and get Drugg out of it. If you think it is your duty to go
for the man, I'll go with you. And I'll go in after him."

"Oh, Mr. Bowman! If you would!"

"Oh, I will. I only wish we had your car. He may be unable to walk
and then the neighbors will talk."

"It's got beyond worrying about what the neighbors say," said Janice
wearily. "Now, wait. I must go and excuse myself to Mrs. Drugg. She
must not suspect. Maybe it isn't as bad as you think and we'll get
Hopewell home all right."

The storekeeper's wife had carried Lottie back to the sitting room.
The child was still asleep and 'Rill was undressing her.

"What is the matter, Janice?" she asked curiously. "Has Mr. Bowman
gone? What did he want?"

"He didn't want to buy anything. He wanted to see me. I--I am going
out with him a little while, Miss 'Rill."

The latter nodded her head knowingly. "I know," she said. "You are
going across the street. I am glad Mr. Bowman feels an interest in Mr.
Haley's affairs."

"Yes!" gasped Janice, feeling that she was perilously near an untruth,
for she was allowing 'Rill to deceive herself.

"Will you put the window lamps out before you go, dear?" the
storekeeper's wife said.

"Certainly," Janice answered, and proceeded to do so before putting on
her coat and hat.

"Don't be long," 'Rill observed softly. "It's after eleven now."

Janice came and kissed her--oh, so tenderly! They stood above the
sleeping child. 'Rill had eyes only for the half naked, plump limbs
and body of the little girl, or she might have seen something in
Janice's tearful glance to make her suspicious.

Janice thought of a certain famous picture of the "Madonna and Child"
as she tiptoed softly from the room, looking back as she went 'Rill
yearned over the little one as only a childless and loving woman does.
Perhaps 'Rill had married Hopewell Drugg as much for the sake of being
able to mother little Lottie as for any other reason.

Yet, what a shock that tender, loving heart was about to receive--what
a blow! Janice shrank from the thought of being one of those to bring
this hovering trouble home to the trusting wife.

Could she not escape it? There was her handbag on the end of the
counter. She was tempted to seize it, run out of the store, and make
her way homeward as fast as possible.

She could leave Frank Bowman to settle the matter with his own
conscience. He had